Method of installing drawer guide, and structure

ABSTRACT

A method of installing the stationary element of a two element slide-facilitating arrangement for a drawer in a furniture piece, the guide being anchored to the furniture front parting rail through the use of a rib-equipped plastic block positioned within the channel shaped guide.

Unite States Patent .1191 111 3,850,482 Gutner Nov. 26, 1974 [5 METHODOF INSTALLING DRAWER 2,559,322 7/1951 Skamser 312/346 2,698,214 12/1954Skamser 312/346 GUIDE, AND STRUCTURE 3,215,476 11/1965 Jacobs 308/3.8Inventor: Kenneth Gutner, 3285 Date, 3,650,577 3/1972 Gutner 312/347Highland Park, 111. 62249 Filed; 06L 1972 Primary Examiner--Charles J.Myhre 2 A L N 297 4 Assistant Examiner-R. H. Lazarus 1 PP 4 Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Dawson, Tilton, Fallon &

Related US. Application Data Lungmus [63] Continuation-impart of Ser.No. 121,025, March 4,

1971, Pat. No. 3,702,717.

' [57] ABSTRACT- [52] US. Cl. 308/311, 312/346 [51] lint. Cl. Flnc 21/00A m ho f ins alling the stationary element of a two [58] Field of Search308/36, 3.8; 312/342, element slide-facilitating arrangement for adrawer in 312/343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 330, 350, 351; a furniture piece,the guide being anchored to the fur- 211/162 niture front parting railthrough the use of a ribequipped plastic block positioned within thechannel [56]' References Cited shaped g UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,417,5233/1947 Simpson 393/33 4 Clams 4 Drawmg figures METHOD OF INSTALLINGDRAWER GUIDE, AND STRUCTURE This application is a continuation-in-partof my Application Ser. No. 121,025 filed Mar. 4, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No.3,702,717.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention like that set forthin the above identified application has to do with a metal drawer guidein place of the long used wooden guide. Here it will be appreciated thatfor a number of years metal slides have been used on drawers (see, forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 3,328,107) but that the stationary or malemembers have been constructed of wood. This has been the casenotwithstanding the fact that wood guides are disadvantageous throughthe possibility of swelling or splintering, particularly when tightenedwith the usual wood screws. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, metalguides have not been used. The metal guide, in combination with a metalslide normally produces an irritating sound when metal is rubbed againstmetal. To a certain extent this can be damped when the drawer associatedthere with is filled with clothing. However, under these circumstances,there can be a pronounced tendancy of the drawer guide to collapse-itbeing appreciated that for a metal guide to be attractive in such anenvironment it must be inexpensive and easy to install. This necessarilyleads to a relatively lightweight, i.e., thin gauge, which can tend tocollapse or become distorted under heavy loadsparticularly when thedrawer is pulled out and a good deal of its weight supported only on theforward end of the drawer guide.

These problems have been overcome according to the invention whichprovide substantial other advantages as well. According to theinvention, a generally rectangular solid plastic block is installed inthe forward end of the channel shaped guide. In addition to aiding inthe dampening of the sound and providing unique rigidification orstabilization of the guide (particularly under load), the insert blockalso serves as an advantageous mounting for the securing wood screwwhich extends through the guide into the front parting rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION The invention is described inconjunction with an illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawing,in which FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of afurniture piece, such as a dresser, showing the guide installedaccording to teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the guide of FIG.1 with an insert block shown in the process of being installed in thefront end of the guide;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inventive guide assemblywhere a wood screw is in the pro cess of being inserted through theblock and guide into the front parting rail; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the block constructedaccording to teachings of this invention. Referring now to FIG. 1, thenumeral designates generally a portion of a furniture piece such as adresser and the numeral 11 generally the guide embodying teachings ofthis invention. The guide is seen to be installed between a frontparting rail 12 and a rear parting rail 13. These rails, or equivalentstructures, are provided in dressers, desks, etc. for separation of thevarious drawers, one above the other, and for mounting of the backpanelin the case of the rear parting rail 13.

In general, the guide 11 includes a modified panel shape for engagementwith a drawer slide (not shown) but which can be seen in my abovementioned patent.

As can be appreciated best from FIGS. 2 and 3, the channel-shaped guide11 includes a bottom wall 14 and upstanding sidewalls l5 and 16. Each ofthese upstanding, opposed sidewalls l5 and 16 are in turn equipped withchannel-like flanges as at 17 relative to the sidewalls 15 and 18relative to the sidewall 16. These channel-like flanges l7 and 18cooperate with mating portions of the drawer slide (not shown) inachieving proper movement of a drawer (also not shown).

In accordance with the teachings of my above identified application,Ser. No. 121,025, U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,717, I provide the bottom wall 14with an upset portion 19 which is intended to bitingly engage the rearfacing surface of the front parting rail 12, thereby assisting inimmobilizing the forward end of the guide 11.

For positively fixing the forward end of the guide 11 to the frontparting rail 12, a plastic block generally designated 20 (see FIG. 4) isemployed. The block 20 is seen to be generally of a rectangular solidconfiguration and can be advantageously constructed of a plasticmaterial such as high density polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. Theblock 20 is seen to be equipped on oppo- .site sidewalls with integraloutstanding ribs 21 and 22.

It will be seen that the sidewalls l5 and 16 are equipped with alignedrib-receiving groove as at 23 and 24 (see FIG. 2). r

The bottom wall 14 of the guide 11 is equipped with a through bore as at25 (still referring to FIG. 2) which ultimately receives the wood screw26 (see FIG. 3). For this purpose, the block 20 is equipped with athrough bore 27.

In the practice of the invention, the block 20 is inserted into theguide I1. Prior to that time, the guide 11 is equipped with the grooves23 and 24 and the through bore 25. When the block 20 is installedthrough the coaction of the ribs 21 and 22 with the grooves 23 and 24,the bore 27 in the block 20 is aligned with the bore 25 and the bottomwall 14. Thereafter the guide is positioned in place on the partingrails 12 and 13, particularly careful attention being paid to theplacement of the front end of the guide 11 on the front parting rail 12.In many instances, a gauge mark is provided centrally of the partingrail 12, i.e., midway between the frame part 10a and 10b (see FIG. I).Thereafter, the wood screw 26 is inserted and secured to the frontparting rail 12.

The drawer is then inserted over the guide II which automaticallypositions the rear end of the guide 11. In the instance that the drawerslide is off center or there is some other distortion, it is possible toshift the front end of the guide slightly by virtue of the fact that thebores 27 and 25 are elongated transversely of the guide, i.e., generallyoval.

With the guide properly aligned with the slide of the drawer (not shown)the rear end of the guide can be secured in place. In many instancesthis is achieved through the employment of a wood screw 28 (see the lefthand portion of FIG. 2) which extends forwardly and downwardly into theparting rail 13 at an angle of about 45. This is conveniently installedbecause the guide 11 is mounted in place prior to the application of theusually provided back panel (also not shown). A]- ternatively, a powertool may be employed to drive a screw vertically into the rear partingrail. in certain instances, however, it has been found to beadvantageous to employ a second block as at 120 in FIG. 2 for thepurpose of securing the rear portion of the guide 11 to the rear partingrail 13. In such a case, the rear ends of the sidewalls l and 16 areequipped with grooves (not shown) but which are the counterpart of thosedesignated 23 and 24 relative to the front end of the guide 1 1. Also, athrough bore (not shown) is provided equivalent to that designated 25relative to the front end of the guide 11.

Through the use of the block an advantageous method of installation isprovided in that the bore 27 in the block 20 provides a receptacle forthe support of the wood screw during the threadible engagement of thescrew with the parting rail 12. Also, the block stabilizes the guideagainst deformation at a critical area. It will be appreciated that whena drawer is partially pulled out of a dresser, desk, etc., the principalpoint subject to deformation from a sideways force on the drawer is thefront end of the guide. Further, when the guide is tapped sidewaysduring installation to obtain exact alignment, any undesirabledeformation is avoided.

I claim:

1. A method of installing a drawer guide comprising the steps ofinserting a rigid block into the forward end of an elongatedchannel-shaped metal guide, said guide having opposed rib-receivinggrooves in the channel sidewalls adjacent said forward end and a screwpassing bore in the channel bottom wall aligned with said grooves, saidblock having a generally rectangular solid configuration with integralvertically extending ribs on two opposite sides for receipt in saidgrooves, said block also having a vertical bore therethrough adapted toreceive a wood screw and aligned with said ribs, positioning said blockcontaining guide over a front parting rail of a furniture piece andcentrally of a drawer opening, inserting a wood screw through said boresand securing said screw to said front parting rail, and securing therear of said guide to a rear parting rail of said furniture piece.

2. A method of installing a drawer guide comprising the steps ofinserting a rigid plastic block into the forward end of an elongatedchannel-shaped metal guide, said guide having opposed rib-receivinggrooves in the channel sidewalls adjacent said forward end and a screwpassing bore in the channel bottom wall aligned with said grooves, saidblock having a generally rectangular solid configuration with integralvertically extending ribs on two opposite sides for receipt in saidgrooves, said block also having a vertical bore therethrough adapted toreceive a wood screw and aligned with said ribs, positioning said blockcontaining guide over a front parting rail of a furniture piece andcentrally of a drawer opening, inserting a wood screw through said boresand securing said screw to said front parting rail, and securing therear of said quide to a rear parting rail of said furniture piece, saidchannel bottom wall being equipped with an upset portion spacedrearwardly of said bottom wall bore and in which said upset portion isbitingly engaged with said front parting rail prior to securing saidwood screw.

3. A drawer guide installation comprising a furniture piece equippedwith front and rear parting rails providing drawer support, an elongatedmetal guide extending between and secured to said parting rails, saidguide having a general channel shape including a bottom wall andspaced-apart upstanding side walls, said side walls being equipped withopposed integral grooves in vertical alignment with said front partingrail, said bottom wall having a through bore aligned with said opposedgrooves, a rigid plastic block positioned in said channel shape alsovertically aligned with said front parting rail, said block beinggenerally a rectangular solid having integral ribs projecting from apair of opposite side walls and received in said grooves, said blockhaving a vertical through bore aligned with said bottom wall throughbore, a wood screw installed in said through bores and secured to saidfront parting rail, and means securing the rear of said guide to saidrear parting rail.

4. A drawer guide installation comprising a furniture piece equippedwith front and rear parting rails providing drawer support, an elongatedmetal guide extending between and secured to said parting rails, saidguide having a general channel shape including a bottom wall andspaced-apart upstanding side walls, said side walls being equipped withopposed integral grooves in vertical alignment with said front partingrail, said bottom wall having a through bore aligned with said opposedgrooves, a rigid plastic block positioned in said channel shape alsovertically aligned with said front parting rail, said block beinggenerally a rectangular solid having integral ribs projecting from apair of opposite side walls and received in said grooves, said blockhaving a vertical through bore aligned with said bottom wall throughbore, a wood screw installed in said through bores and secured to saidfront parting rail, and means securing the rear of said guide to saidrear parting rail, said channel bottom wall being equipped with an upsetportion spaced rearwardly of said bottom wall bore and in which saidupset portion is bitingly engaged with said front parting rail.

1. A method of installing a drawer guide comprising the steps ofinserting a rigid block into the forward end of an elongatedchannel-shaped metal guide, said guide having opposed ribreceivinggrooves in the channel sidewalls adjacent said forward end and a screwpassing bore in the channel bottom wall aligned with said grooves, saidblock having a generally rectangular solid configuration with integralvertically extending ribs on two opposite sides for receipt in saidgrooves, said block also having a vertical bore therethrough adapted toreceive a wood screw and aligned with said ribs, positioning said blockcontaining guide over a front parting rail of a furniture piece andcentrally of a drawer opening, inserting a wood screw through said boresand securing said screw to said front parting rail, and securing therear of said guide to a rear parting rail of said furniture piece.
 2. Amethod of installing a drawer guide comprising the steps of inserting arigid plastic block into the forward end of an elongated channel-shapedmetal guide, said guide having opposed rib-receiving grooves in thechannel sidewalls adjacent said forward end and a screw passing bore inthe channel bottom wall aligned with said grooves, said block having agenerally rectangular solid configuration with integral verticallyextending ribs on two opposite sides for receipt in said grooves, saidblock also having a vertical bore therethrough adapted to receive a woodscrew and aligned with said ribs, positioning said block containingguide over a front parting rail of a furniture piece and centrally of adrawer opening, inserting a wood screw through said bores and securingsaid screw to said front parting rail, and securing the rear of saidquide to a rear parting rail of said furniture piece, said channelbottom wall being equipped with an upset portion spaced rearwardly ofsaid bottom wall bore and in which said upset portion is bitinglyengaged with said front parting rail prior to securing said wood screw.3. A drawer guide installation comprising a furniture piece equippedwith front and rear parting rails providing drawer support, an elongatedmetal guide extending between and secured to said parting rails, saidguide having a general channel shape including a bottom wall andspaced-apart upstanding side walls, said side walls being equipped withopposed integral grooves in vertical alignment with said front partingrail, said bottom wall having a through bore aligned with said opposedgrooves, a rigid plastic block positioned in said channel shape alsovertically aligned with said front parting rail, said block beinggenerally a rectangular solid having integral ribs projecting from apair of opposite side walls and received in said grooves, said blockhaving a vertical through bore aligned with said bottom wall throughbore, a wood screw installed in said through bores and secured to saidfront parting rail, and means securing the rear of said guide to saidrear paRting rail.
 4. A drawer guide installation comprising a furniturepiece equipped with front and rear parting rails providing drawersupport, an elongated metal guide extending between and secured to saidparting rails, said guide having a general channel shape including abottom wall and spaced-apart upstanding side walls, said side wallsbeing equipped with opposed integral grooves in vertical alignment withsaid front parting rail, said bottom wall having a through bore alignedwith said opposed grooves, a rigid plastic block positioned in saidchannel shape also vertically aligned with said front parting rail, saidblock being generally a rectangular solid having integral ribsprojecting from a pair of opposite side walls and received in saidgrooves, said block having a vertical through bore aligned with saidbottom wall through bore, a wood screw installed in said through boresand secured to said front parting rail, and means securing the rear ofsaid guide to said rear parting rail, said channel bottom wall beingequipped with an upset portion spaced rearwardly of said bottom wallbore and in which said upset portion is bitingly engaged with said frontparting rail.